Winona Hicks

1928 - 2016

Winona Maurine Harwell Hicks, 87, passed away Monday, March 21, 2016, in Hurst. Funeral: 12:30 p.m. Thursday at Bluebonnet Hills Funeral Home. Interment: 1:30 p.m. Thursday in Bluebonnet Hills Memorial Park. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Bluebonnet Hills Funeral Home. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of choice. Winona was born in Florence on Nov. 19, 1928, to Lonnie Bill Harwell and Dovie Vera Tucker. After Winona's father's untimely death when she was 12, her mother remarried Jesse James Fleming. Winona and her brother, L.B. Harwell, lived with their maternal grandparents in Florence, finally moving to Austin with the Flemings as soon as it was possible. After graduating from high school in Austin, Winona married Charles C. Hicks. They celebrated 52 years of marriage before Mr. Hicks' passing. They lived in Austin, Houston and Denison before settling in Hurst in 1963. Winona still lived in the house they bought in the 1960s, where they raised their four children, many grandchildren, a dozen cats, one dog and other assorted relatives and friends of relatives. Winona and Charles shared a life of fierce loyalty, steadfast work ethic, fun times and never-ending unconditional love. These qualities were shared with lifelong friends too numerous to count, relatives and, most of all, their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Winona worked for many grocers and then with Safeway. She retired only when Safeway Stores left the area. Caring for plants and a garden, bird watching, girl trips, camping trips with family, listening to Ray Price and watching Dale Earnhardt were some of her favorite things. But her most favorite activities involved spending time with family and helping with whatever needed to be done. She never turned down an "opportunity" to babysit or let others use her spare room. Winona was predeceased by her husband, Charles; daughter, Linda Rogholt; parents; stepfather; brother; one great-grandson; and a special aunt, Lorena Hickson. Winona was the tireless caretaker for most of those relatives. Survivors: Blessed to survive Winona are her daughter, Charlene Murphy (Jim) of Irving; son, James D. Hicks of Hurst; son, William L. Hicks (Carrie) of Peachtree City, Ga.; grandchildren, Tracy Dye (Clay), Chuck Rogholt (Jessica), Michael Hicks (Galit), Chris Hicks (Shari), Ryan Hicks (Reagan), John Hicks (Sarah), Daniel Hicks (Donny) and Melissa Dickerson (Scott); great-grandchildren, Taylor Lewis (Brittany), Aleesha Dye, Dalton Lewis (Noelle), Austin, Chris and Brycen Rogholt, Braden, McKenzie, Ansleigh, Roosie and Jarith Hicks, Amber and Vivian Hoop, Chase (Sarah) and Gabby Love, Kayla, Bella and Nolan Jansen-Rudd, and Cade and Jase Littleton; and dozens of nieces, nephews, cousins and other extended family. Finally, her special cat, Duncan, will miss her lap the most. All are proof of a long life, well lived.